Trey Williams
Johnson City Press Sports

In modern-day sports, where winning at any cost seems to have come at the price of innocence, Milligan College women's basketball coach Rich Aubrey seems guilty of nothing more than keeping it all in perspective.

Aubrey has been recognized as the Champion of Character for NAIA Regions XI and XII. (Milligan distance runner Megan Lease was also chosen.) While many coaches' primary concern would be how much such an honor could dress up their resume, Aubrey appreciated the recognition while deferring any credit.

"My feeling is that the award is more a reflection of the atmosphere in which I get to work and the kind of students I get to coach," said Aubrey, who also concluded a stint coaching men's tennis this season.

A Pittsburgh native, Aubrey returned to his Milligan alma mater to coach women's basketball in 1993. He is a three-time conference coach of the year, and two of his teams (1996-97 and '98-99) had undefeated league records and four of his teams have reached the NAIA national tournament.

But he isn't enslaved by scoreboards. Neither is Milligan, according to Aubrey.

"The expectation here is more about running a quality program than wins and losses in a given year," Aubrey said. "There's a much bigger picture than wins and losses at Milligan.

When I was hired, I felt like the greatest pressure to win was within me."

Milligan athletic director Ray Smith could've guessed as much.

"I know he likes winning games and his players always seem to get better on the tennis and basketball courts," Smith said. "But I know Rich gets more enjoyment out of seeing kids mature and blossom."

It was that passion which amplified Aubrey's pain following tennis player Steven Hunter's shocking death after a conditioning run in January. Aubrey and many Milligan students traveled to Ohio for Hunter's funeral, and Aubrey said the team documented a tribute to him this season.

The team wore wristbands honoring him and has accumulated pictures and video highlights for Hunter's family.

"That was a very trying event and we've tried to share that burden together," Aubrey said. "I told both of my teams (tennis and basketball) that they were supporting me in ways they didn't realize. I'm still dealing with the fallout of his death. ... Steven was a kind young man."

Aubrey can only imagine the pain of the parents. He and his wife Sheri -- a former Milligan softball player -- have two daughters similar in age, 18-year-old Erin and 16-year-old Amy.

Smith said Coach Aubrey helps mold "adults of substance." So does father Aubrey.

He's pleased that Amy is reading "To Kill A Mockingbird," as everyone else in the house has. Told through children's eyes, it revolves around the hatred directed at them and their father while he's defending a black man accused of raping a white woman in 1930s Alabama.

When it comes to instruction, Smith says, Aubrey is more inclined to walking the walk than talking talk. He leads by example.

"Rich puts (his ego) on the back burner," Smith said. "Rich is the kind of guy you want your children to be involved with. He has his priorities in life and he knows what's important."

Aubrey seemed a little uneasy about receiving any attention associated with an award that's rooted in little more than decency and common courtesy.

"I get a little nervous about awards honoring people for having character," Aubrey said. "It's probably a sad commentary on today's sports world that we feel it's necessary to do that."

Besides, Aubrey would be the first to tell you that he's a work in progress. He definitely wants to continue refining his rapport with basketball officials during games ... not that you'd ever confuse him with Bobby Knight or Mike Krzyzewski.

Aubrey's basketball teams have won the sportsmanship award the past two years and his tennis teams have won twice in the past three years.

"In the last year I've tried to work really hard on being a better sport with the officials," Aubrey said. "I've tried to be more understanding of their task. I would like to be a little more respectful.

"I expect my players to always keep their composure and I should hold myself to that same standard."

As far as NAIA is concerned, he's setting the standard.